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November 11, 2009 at 4:18 am #592965
EmmyJaneParticipantWe are buying a full size washer and dryer but have no idea what kind to get. Do any of you out there know your washers and dryers and have some recommendations?
If anyone has access to consumer reports that would be helpful too.
Thanks!
November 11, 2009 at 4:37 am #681993
hammerheadParticipantLG LG LG. I do some nasty cat laundry. I have gone thru 4 washers in about 7 years. I just bought an LG from home depot. I love it. my previous washer a whirlpool did NOT spin properly all the time.
Plus home depot has 12 months interest free.
good luck
November 11, 2009 at 4:48 am #681994
christopherboffoliParticipantI did a lot of research before I buying and decided on Miele. I’ve had no trouble at all with them in the three years or so that I’ve had them. They are beautifully designed (German, of course), are quieter than comparable models, and use less energy and water. One of my favorite things about the front-load washer is the sterilize function for my dishtowels. The cycles are a bit longer than American machines and the price is a bit higher upfront. But I think the machines work better and will provide value in the long term with reliability and energy/water savings.
November 11, 2009 at 5:34 am #681995
hammerheadParticipantForgot to mention I have Fischer Pikel. It RPM is about 1100. the clothes are just about dry.
To bad you missed the albert lee sale it is very good.
November 11, 2009 at 2:43 pm #681996
voodooMemberI have a Fisher & Paykel washer that I got at the Sears outlet in Tacoma, where they sell them under the Elba brand.
Hammerhead is right – clothes come out of the spin cycle practically dry. It is a high efficiency top loader that uses about the same amount of water and energy as a front loader, but costs less, weighs less (meaning I can have it in my 2nd floor condo), and because it is a top loader, it fits in my laundry closet (where I wouldn’t be able to leave the door of a front loader open to dry out after using). Because it is high efficiency, I was also able to get a $75 rebate from the city.
It got very good reviews from Consumer Reports and I am extremely pleased so far. My old dryer is still hanging on (and may last even longer now that I am not putting sopping wet clothes into it), so I don’t have any advice for you there.
November 11, 2009 at 11:03 pm #681997
BZooParticipantI also have a Fisher Paykel and it’s GREAT!
November 11, 2009 at 11:12 pm #681998
KeithMemberDo the Fisher & Paykel machines run fairly quiet? We have a condo-sized Maytag high efficiency front loader and we hate it – it’s so noisy and doesn’t really do a great job. It was one of only two options available at Albert Lee for the space we have (upstairs mini-closet) and was the only HE model we could find that would fit.
November 12, 2009 at 12:16 am #681999
voodooMemberMine is WAY quieter than my old klunky Kitchenaid top loader. My laundry closet is in the middle of the condo and I occasionally hear water running, and the spin cycle makes kind of a high pitched whine, but overall it is quite stealthy.
It also has a self-balancing feature so if your load is off balance it will not go KA-THUNKA like my old one used to do.
If you are severely space challenged, I don’t know if the model I have will work for you. It is basically the same size as a regular top loader.
November 12, 2009 at 2:09 am #682000
anonymeParticipantI love, love, love my Bosch Axxis stacking W/D combo. Low water & energy consumption, cleans great, spins almost dry so that drying time is very short. It’s pretty quiet, too. Very solid and well made, stainless interiors, attractive. The only drawback is that this particular model is a little small for more than 2 people, or if you need to wash huge comforters. However, there are larger Bosch models available. You should know this is high praise as I am hardly ever satisfied with anything. Can’t beat those
Germans! I just bought a Miele vacuum, which I also adore.
November 12, 2009 at 3:00 am #682001
me on 28th Ave SWParticipantI know they aren’t very fancy, but I LOVE the matching Kenmore Front Loading Super Capacity set we bought last year at Sears the day after Thanksgiving. It was a “black Friday” sale (but they had tons of them), and may never happen again but if you don’t need a set right away it might be worth a wait and see. We paid about $600 for the pair, free delivery and then a $50 rebate from City Light. They are MUCH quieter than the last front-loader pair we had (bought in 2000) and the clothes come out spun to damp. We use ours for 4-6 big loads a week. No complaints.
November 12, 2009 at 3:18 am #682002
EmmyJaneParticipantme on 28th- you just said the magic words, black Friday… I think I’m going to look and see if I can get a good special on a set.
Thanks everyone for the advice!
November 12, 2009 at 3:21 am #682003
lazybeardParticipantEmmyJane – If you aren’t aware, the feds have been distro’ing funds to the states for their own “cash for clunker appliance” version. Last I heard, they were still discussing it and not giving any other info for Washington State.
November 13, 2009 at 2:49 am #682004
me on 28th Ave SWParticipantGood Luck!
November 13, 2009 at 2:58 am #682005
SmittyParticipantWhatever you decide, please know that front loaders – as good as they make you feel – are HORRIBLE!
HORRIBLE! (we have new LG).
They do not – I repeat – do not get clothes as clean as the top loaders.
No pre-soak.
Clothes stink if you forget to put them in the dryer within 12 hours.
Clothes fall on the floor as you transfer them from the washer to the dryer.
Oh, and the last time I looked (this may have changed) Consumer Reports rates front loaders and top loaders separately. Interesting, no?
Think “low flush toilets” that get flushed twice instead of once! Stupid.
I could go on……
November 13, 2009 at 3:41 am #682006
GenHillOneParticipanthehehe, I bet wet clothes stinking after 12 hours is probably universal, doncha’ think?
November 13, 2009 at 4:45 am #682007
EmmyJaneParticipantI decided to stop being cheap and paid for the consumer reports. :-)
November 13, 2009 at 5:01 am #682008
KBearParticipantSmitty, that’s a full load of crap. Twelve hours between wash and dry? Clothes fall on the floor? Don’t blame the washer and dryer for your ineptitude.
I’ve been using a front loader for 12 years, and it works great.
November 13, 2009 at 5:39 am #682009
RAKParticipantFor just average use, nothing fancy, try Estate made by Whirlpool. Estate has been a recommended buy by Consumer Reports in the last couple years. After research, that is what I bought (a single simple kind of wash man). I bought them from our local Wiseman’s Appliance. Good local service.
November 13, 2009 at 6:09 am #682010
hammerheadParticipantYou want to talk stinky come to my facility where I can house 20-50 feral cats and it is GROSS. It is all in the laundry detergent. Although my LG is great some smelly detergent and bleach and my poop and pee stains are just about gone. Now I don’t know how it compares to wine or any other thing a kid can do.
November 13, 2009 at 6:52 am #682011
ws4everMemberInteresting to hear generally good LG feedback. A Home Depot employee told me to avoid LG due to frequent repairs–about 2 years ago.
November 13, 2009 at 2:52 pm #682012
SmittyParticipantDon’t believe the hype is all I can say!
Front loaders do not clean as well as top loaders.
There is a definite mold/smell problem (look it up).
Lots of bending over (a problem for some – even if they are stacked).
I would buy one of the”pre-regulation” top-loaders off of craigslist or ebay before they are all gone.
Don’t sacrifice clean clothing just to “feel good” about the environment – because you end up washing your clothes twice as much!
Good luck.
November 13, 2009 at 4:30 pm #682013
greatfree1MemberI have an LG front loader that my wife and I bought last year on Black Friday. We love them!
One thing that we didn’t know the Washer, thank goodness a friend told us, was to drain it once a month. The LG washers have a little door at the base that has a hose in it, pull that out and drain once a month or you will get that moldy smell.
Not sure if all front loaders have those but our LG does.My friend Didn’t find out about it for a year and it was pretty bad. Glad she told us because no one else did and who really reads the directions to find out?
November 17, 2009 at 4:24 pm #682014
ghar72ParticipantIn case you didn’t know, City Light is offering rebates on certain washers. Here’s the link:
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/light/conserve/resident/washwise/
Must be purchased by Dec 31 09. I think someone else mentioned the cash for clunkers, appliance version being offered by the feds. Info after Nov 30th. Bummer timing b/c of Black Friday deals, but may be worth it to wait. Good luck!
November 17, 2009 at 4:36 pm #682015
AlParticipantWe’ve had an LG washer/dryer (front load) set for oh, 5 years now…zero problems. No mold issues, clothes come out clean just fine. It’s got a pre-soak setting and lots of other settings I haven’t even used. Love it.
November 17, 2009 at 5:15 pm #682016
shihtzuParticipantMy brand new Maytag conked out after just a year. It was replaced because it was under warranty, but the new one is now about 4 years old and doesn’t sound very healthy. I don’t recommend Maytag.
If I had to do it over again, I’d buy a front loader. There are some things I really don’t like about them (can’t open them mid-cycle, have to leave the door open, bending over, etc.), however I think they wash clothes MUCH better and with less water. I used my sister in law’s once after my son stomped through mud in his socks. They came out clean! Never would have happened in my top loader.
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